Enclosure construction for buildings



April 12, 1966 R J HALLE 3,245,184

' ENCLOSURE CONSTRUCTION FOR BUILDINGS Filed Aug. 15, 1961 FIG! 22.0652. :1. HALLE, mvau'rot 5v RMEAWJJW, ATTOKNEY United States Patent3,245,184 ENCLOSURE CONSTRUCTION FOR BUILDINGS Roger J. Halle, PoundRidge, N.Y. Filed Aug. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 131,642 9 Claims. (Cl. 52-281)This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applicationSerial No. 363,021, filed June 22, 1953, for Art of Building, nowabandoned.

This invention relates to building construction, and particularly tosystems and elements of vertical enclosure for buildings, and to thearrangement and assembly of vertical enclosure elements with frameelements such as columns or equivalent upright members. By verticalenclosure elements are meant wall panels, window units or frames, doorunits or frames and associated parts or pieces (including, as explainedbelow, column-covering sections), all of these elements capable of beingcorrelated to afford a completed wall extending, as desired,continuously in a horizontal direction. The invention is of value toboth exterior walls and interior partitions, i.e. wall elements ofeither sort, that span vertical areas between columns and is appropriatefor one or both faces or panels of such wall elements, in their relationto the adjacent columns.

The invention concerns enclosure systems using a specific basis ofdimensioning, the term dimensioning being here employed as a term ofmeasure to signify the horizontal magnitude of the enclosure elementsand their relation to each other and to the associated columns.

In fundamental aspects the invention relates to a basis,

or to bases, for dimensioning in the art of building, and to assembliesusing such a basis or bases. More specifically, the invention relates toa principle and system of dimensioning that results in greatersimplification, standardization and economy. An object of the inventionis to achieve enclosure elements of a universal nature, that can beplaced, interchangeably, in various positions to form complete walls. Afurther object is to achieve economy by reducing the quantity of typesof such elements needed to form complete buildings to a minimum that canbe easily catalogued, manufactured for inventory and stocked for readyuse.

Examples of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawingwherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric, exploded view of a portion of a wall, to showthe manner and direction of assembly of wall, window and door elementsto supporting columns;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section of a portion of wall, showing at theleft-hand side a solid wall unit and at the right a portion of a windowframe unit;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section similar to FIG. 2, showing an outsidecorner condition, with a solid wall unit and a door frame unit;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, except that it shows variants ofwall and window sections and the condition wherein a wall at rightangles meets continuing wall sections; and

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section similar to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, in whichfour wall units meet at a column.

The features of the invention are preferably usable in building systemsusing enclosure elements such as panels, door frames or window frameswhich are designed as units to be attached to spaced columns (i.e.vertical frame members, either load-carrying or non-load-carrying) so asto constitute easily and rapidly erected wall assemblies. i

closure elements can be economically manufactured in only a limitednumber of standardized sizes, in normal situations effectively multiplesof the module, yet should be capable of being used in buildings of agreat variety of architectural layouts. In many instances, it may beadvantageous to use enclosure elements of only a single modular size.

Referring to the drawings, the general scheme of the enclosure elements,and their relations to each other and to vertical columns or posts, isillustrated in FIG. 1, while the remaining figures represent enlargedhorizontal sections, presenting various details of a number of elementsand arrangements using the invention, it being understood that the majorparts, especially panels, cover pieces, columns, door and window framesections, and the like, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, are elements whichhave a considerable vertical extent, for spanning or covering verticalareas, as in the manner of corresponding parts depicted in FIG. 1.Furthermore, it is to be assumed that the illustrated systems are to beassociated in a framework which includes not only vertical columns butalso the necessary horizontal beams or similar members, both above andbelow the illustrated columns, and that such parts (not shown)constitute appropriate floor-supporting and roof-supporting structurewhich is carried with or by the columns, and which carries suitablefloor, roof and ceiling panels, all of these, for the sake of clarity,being omitted from the drawing.

FIG. 1 shows two column sections 10 and 11, between which are attachedpanel units 12 and 13. Panel units 12 and 13 are shown in explodedrelation, so that the direction of assembly will be apparent. Wall panelunits 14 and 15 are shown in assembled position below window frame unit16, composed of sub-frames 17 and 18. Similarly, door frame unit 20,composed of sub-frames 21 and 22, is shown in assembled positionadjacent to column 11. Also, cover pieces 24 and 25 are shown inexploded relationship to column 11. It will be apparent that when theabove-mentioned portions are all assembled and similar cover pieces(omitted for purposes of clarity in the drawing) are assembled inrelation to column 10, a continuous wall, composed of wall, window anddoor units, will be formed.

FIG. 2 shows a condition similar to that at column 10 of FIG. 1. At theleft-hand side of column 30 are shown panels 31 and 32, which are heldin position and secured to the column by angles 33 and 34, suitablyattached by bolts, clips, or other arrangements, such as at 36 and 37.Similarly, fixed-sash window frame unit 40, composed of sub-frames 41and 42, is shown in assembled position, attached by angles 43 and 44.Cover pieces 45 and 46 complete the surface planes between panel 31 andwindow sub-frame 41 and panel 32 and window sub-frame 42, respectively,thus achieving both protection for column 30 and continuous wallsurfaces. Thus the assembly of elements can provide a flush, continuouswall face (i.e. an essentially continuous plane) over the columns aswell as at the intervening spaces, throughout the entire building, withrespect both to interior and exterior surfaces.

In accordance with the invention the various wall, window and coverpiece units have their vertical boundaries, i.e. their horizontallimits, defined by vertical planes through the dotted lines 47 and 48(FIG. 2), which are at right angles to each other and extend from cornerto opposite corner of the related column, such as column 30. Inconformity with this, the vertical edge surfaces of each of theenclosure elements are constituted by planes making an angle of 45 withthe principal plane of the enclosure element. In a general sense, thevertical edge of each enclosure element can be defined as lying in avertical plane which intersects the adjacent corner of the relatedcolumn at an angle of 45 to the general plane of the constituted wall.

Preferably, the columns are of the square-tube type shown, e.g. hollowsteel columns of square cross-section, but other types may be used, suchas H-columns or even round columns, with appropriate attaching oradapting means (not shown), the generic requirement (for purposes ofdefinition of the panel edges) being that the column be considered asoccupying, or as having an envelope of vertical boundaries whichprovides, a rectangular cross-section. Unless otherwise specified, theterm column is used herein to mean not only load-carrying columns butalso similar non-load-carrying upright members, such as posts or struts,which may similarly serve for attachment of wall panels, windows, doorsand the like.

Embodying these principles of dimensioning, the enclosure elements whichspan open spaces between columns, such as the panels 12, 13 of FIG. 1,the panels 31, 32 of FIG. 2, the window sub-frames 41, 42 of FIG. 2, aswell as like elements 14 to 22 in FIG. 1, have vertical edges which aremiteredso as to slope, at an angle of 45, from the inner face of thepanel or like element in a direction toward the center of the panel.Similarly each cover plate or piece, such as the elements 24, 25, 45 and46, has each vertical edge similarly mitered to slope in an oppositedirection, i.e. at an angle of 45, from the outer face inwardly towardthe center of the piece or plate. It will be understood that althoughthese edge faces of the enclosure elements are shaped to lie along thevertical planes through the lines 47 and 48, the structures admit ofsome tolerance, within the general requirement that when put in place,the panels have their edge faces parallel to and reasonably close tosuch planes. Thus small spaces may occur between adjoining enclosureelements (as is apparent in FIG. 2), appropriate caulking or coveringthen being usable for the resulting, open joints, for instance asexplained in connection with FIG. 3 below. It will also be noted thatwhere portions of window or other enclosure elements protrude beyond theoutside, planes of the walls, such as the portion of sill 58 thatextends beyond dotted line 51, such portions conform with the basis ofthe system, in that they are confined within a quadrant defined bydiagonal dotted lines 47 and 48.

It will now be apparent that with the system of enclosure elementshaving the described shape and relation of vertical edges, substantialadvantages of universality, simplicity and ease of erection areachieved. Every wall, window, door or cover piece can be confined, as aunit, within an upright quadrant of planes represented by theintersecting lines at each associated column. Hence, in any building thevarious enclosure elements fit interchangeably at all places ofassociation with a column, whether for continuing walls, for wallsmeeting at right angles or for walls wholly or partly intersecting atright angles. In other words, with respect to any given wall panel,window, door or cover piece as shown at any of the columns in FIGS. 1 or2 (or FIGS. 3 or 4) it is possible to substitute any other element ofsimilar design, i.e. at any face of the column. In all such instances,the assembly maintains the same dimensional basis and relationships.

With this system and principle of dimensioning for the enclosureelements, buildings may be erected with only a minimum number ofdifferent kinds of such elements. In other words, it is necessary toprovide only a minimum number of fabricated types of enclosure parts inorder to serve a wide variety, if not the full gamut, of normalconditions in building construction. As a result, it becomes possible toreduce substantially the number of types of enclosure elements, ascompared with building construction systems, modular or otherwise, thatfollow more conventional bases of dimensioning.

To illustrate further instances of enclosure assemblies using theinvention, FIG. 3 shows a column 55 (similar to the column 30 of FIG. 2or the columns 18 and 11 of FIG. 1), to which are attached wall panelunits 56 and 57. To illustrate the feasibility of using a wide varietyof panel types, panel 56 is shown as of a double structure. On aright-angle face of column 55, exterior door frame 58 is shown, composedof sub-frames 59 and 60. Similarly, cover pieces 61 and 62 protect theother two faces of column 55 and achieve continuous wall surfaces.

These elements can be attached in the manner described in FIG. 2. Beyondthis, it is intended that a variety of means can be used to close, sealor caulk the joints between panel units. In addition, there may beconditions where cover strips over the joints are desired, and if so,closure means such as battens 64 and 65, which are shown in explodedrelation, can be used, it being understood that these sealing or closurebattens extend the entire height of the. associated elements, forsealing or Weatherproofing the joint between adjacent enclosureelements. 7

As in FIG. 2, it will be seen that the enclosure structure extendingfrom any face of column 55, within a quadrant defined by diagonal linessuch as lines 47 and 48 in FIG. 2, can be alternatively and readilypositioned in relation to any other face of the column. The absence ofneed for additional and different units to accommodate these variousconditions makes it possible to reduce the total number of partsrequired to assemble complete buildings, and hence to achieve greatersimplification and standardization.

FIG. 4 shows a column with wall panels 71 and 72 at a face of the columnand sliding or doublehung window frame 73, composed of sub-frame 74 andclosing frame strips 75 and 76, and with cover pieces 78 and 79. In thisvariant, it will be seen that the wall 80, 81 at right angles can beadded later, in that the cover piece 79 can be put in place first andpanels 80 and 81 added by means of angles 82 and 83. That is to say,although it is preferable to use enclosure elements that embody theprinciples of the invention at all portions of a building, the system isadaptable for use in combination with elements of other design, forinstance as is represented by simple panels 80 and 81 and theirattachment to the cover or filler piece 79. Similarly, a wall, window ordoor unit could be added in the area between dotted lines 84 and 85.

FIG. 5 shows a column 90, with variants of wall and window units at eachof the four sides of the column. Wall units are represented by 91 and92, and 93 and 94, respectively, while a casement, hinged or projectedwindow unit is shown at 95 and an interior door unit at 96.

Although various examples and conditions have been shown, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not confined to the specific formsherein described, but may be carried out in other ways and other detailswithout departure from the principles of the invention. For example,within the invention a variety of different types of windows, doors,wall panels, columns, and attachment means for the several elements canbe readily used, in different forms from any of the structures shown,providing that the vertical edge construction and dimensioning of eachenclosure element follows the principles of the present invention. Inaddition, although, for simplicity, no gaskets, weather-stripping orwindow or door hardware have been shown, it is to be understood thatthese parts can be included in conventional manner.

I claim:

1. In a building, in combination, a pair of spaced columns, each ofwhich is a preformed, unitary column of square cross-section, and avertical enclosure unit attached to said columns at its respectivesides, to span the space between said columns, each of the verticalsides of such enclosure unit being bounded approximately by extensionsof two crossing vertical planes joining diagonal outside verticalcorners of the adjacent column, for the purpose of defining such planesthe columns being considered of square cross-section with vertical sidesparallel and perpendicular to the plane of the said space, saidenclosure unit being shaped and disposed with its vertical sidesrespectively adjacent but not overlapping the columns, and each saidvertical side extending toward the adjacent column only as far as saidlast-mentioned side is bounded by said extensions of planes.

2. In a, building having a frame comprising spaced columns each of whichis a preformed, unitary column of square cross-section, an assembly ofone of the said columns and associated enclosure elements which includean enclosure element for spanning the space between the stated columnand a locality remote from the column, and an enclosure element whichcovers one face of the column and has substantially the width of thecolumn, said spacespanning element including a portion coplanar withsaid column-covering element so as to provide therewith a continuouswall surface covering the column, said enclosure elements havingessentially mating vertical edges adjacent a corner of the column, whichlie substantially in a plane that extends through the center of thecolumn and that intersects said corner of the column at an angle of 45to the aforesaid continuous wall surface, said space-spanning elementhaving a vertical side, which is bounded by said vertical edge of theelement at said angle of 45 disposed and shaped to be adjacent but notoverlapping the stated column, and said space-spanning element extendingtoward the stated column only as far as that part of its said verticaledge which is closest to the column.

3. The assembly defined in claim 2, which includes a third enclosureelement for spanning a space, extending in an opposite direction fromthe first space and aligned therewith, between said stated column andanother locality remote from said column, said third enclosure elementincluding a portion coplanar with the aforesaid columncovering elementso as to provide therewith a further portion of said continuous wallsurface, said third element and said column-covering element also havingessentially mating vertical edges adjacent a second corner of thecolumn, which lie substantially in a plane that extends through thecenter of the column and that intersects said second corner of thecolumn at an angle of 45 to the aforesaid continuous wall surface, saidthird enclosure element having a vertical side, which is bounded by theaforesaid vertical edge of said third element at said angle of 45,disposed and shaped to be adjacent but not overlapping the statedcolumn, and said third enclosure element extending toward the statedcolumn only as far as that part of its said vertical edge which isclosest to the column.

4. The assembly defined in claim 2, which includes a third enclosureelement which covers a second face of the stated column, being a facewhich meets the first-mentioned column face at a right angle and isseparated from the space-spanning element by the body of column, saidthird element having substantially the width of the column which itcovers and being arranged to provide a second wall surface forming aright-angle corner with the aforesaid continuous wall surface, saidfirst column-covering element and said third element having essentiallymating vertical edges adjacent a second corner of the column, which liesubstantially in a plane that extends through the center of the columnand that intersects said second corner of the column at angles of 45 toboth said wall surfaces.

5. The assembly defined in claim 4, which includes a fourth enclosureelement for spanning a space which extends between said stated columnand another locality remote from said column and which lies in a planethat is disposed at a right angle to the first space and is parallel tothe second face of the stated column, said fourth element including aportion coplanar with said third element so as to provide a continuationof the said second wall surface, said third and fourth elements havingessentially mating vertical edges adjacent a third corner of the column,which lie substantially in a plane that extends through the center ofthe column and that intersects said third corner of the column at anangle of 45 to said second wall surface, said fourth enclosure elementhaving a vertical side, which is bounded by the aforesaid vertical edgeof said fourth element at said angle of 45, disposed and shaped to beadjacent but not overlapping the stated column, and said fourthenclosure element extending toward the stated column only as far as thatpart of its said vertical edge which is closest to the column.

6. In a building having a frame comprising spaced columns each of whichis a preformed, unitary column of square cross-section, an assembly ofone of the said columns and associated first and second enclosureelements extending from the column in vertical planes at a right angleto each other, for spanning spaces respectively between the statedcolumn and localities remote from said column in the directions of saidplanes, said enclosure elements having upright ends adjacent to a cornerof the column but not overlapping said column, said corner of the columnbeing considered as formed by plane column faces that are respectivelyparallel to the planes of the enclosure elements and that meet at aright angle which opens in an opposite direction to the aforesaid rightangle formed by the enclosure element planes, each of said enclosureelements including a portion which has an outer surface that is parallelto the plane of such enclosure element and that is spaced from the planeof the column face to which such enclosure element is parallel, so as toprovide two wall surfaces meeting at a right angle corner that lies atthe inside of the right angle formed by the enclosure elements and thatis correspondingly spaced from the aforesaid corner of the column, saidenclosure elements having essentially mating vertical edges for theaforesaid portions thereof, which lie substantially in a plane thatbisects said right angle of the wall surface corner.

7. In a building having a frame comprising spaced columns each of whichis a preformed, unitary column of square cross-section, an assembly ofone of the said columns and associated enclosure means providing wallportions extending from two sides of the stated column, said enclosuremeans including a first enclosure structure for spanning the spacebetween a first of said sides of the stated column and a locality remotefrom the column, a second enclosure structure for spanning the spacebetween the second of said sides of the stated column and anotherlocality remote from the column, and two enclosure elements respectivelycovering the faces of the other sides of the stated column, said statedcolumn being considered as bounded by four plane faces, corresponding toits said sides, at right angles to each other, each of said structureshaving space-spanning portions on both of its opposite faces, which lieoutside the planes of the stated column that are parallel to the spannedspace, each of said space-spanning portions having a vertical boundaryedge adjacent to a corner of the stated column, each of said enclosureelements having vertical boundary edges adjacent to correspondingcorners of the stated column, and each of said boundary edges lyingsubstantially in a plane which bisects the right angle of the adjacentcorner of the column, each of said enclosure structures having avertical side, including the boundary edges of the space-spanningportions thereof, which is disposed and shaped to be adjacent but notoverlapping the stated column, and each of said enclosure structuresextending toward the stated column only as far as those portions of theaforesaid boundary edges of such structure which are closest to theextend in opposite directions, in the same wall plane, from the statedcolumn, the two enclosure elements covering respectively the other two,mutually opposite sides of the stated column, each one of said enclosureelements, together with the space-spanning portions of the enclosurestructures which lie on the same side of the stated column with said oneof the enclosure elements, being arranged to form a continuing wallsurface passing and covering the stated column. i

9. The assembly defined in claim 7 in which the first and second sidesof the stated column are adjacent to each other, at a right angle, andthe first and second enclosure structures extend in directions at aright angle to each other, forming a wall corner at the stated column,the two enclosure elements covering respectively the other two faces ofthe stated column which are respectively parallel to the planes of thewall portions constituted by the enclosure, structures, each enclosureelement being adjacent one, space-spanning portion of the corresponding8 one of the enclosure structures and being arranged with said onespace-spanning portion to form a'continuing wall surface extending toand covering the stated column.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,091,061 8/1937Waugh 52262 2,113,067 4/1938 McLaughlin 52463 2,345,018 3/1944 Teague eta1. 52-580 2,590,123 3/1952 Rapp 52262 2,747,703 5/1956 Broberg 52292FOREIGN PATENTS 2217,694 2/ 1942 Switzerland.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

CORNELIUS D. GEL, RICHARD W. COOKE, JR.,

Exa ine s

1. IN A BUILDING, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF SPACED COLUMNS, EACH OFWHICH IS A PREFORMED, UNITARY COLUMN OF SQUARE CROSS-SECTION, AND AVERTICAL ENCLOSURE UNIT ATTACHED TO SAID COLUMNS AT ITS RESPECTIVESIDES, TO SPAN THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID COLUMNS, EACH OF THE VERTICALSIDES OF SUCH ENCLOSURE UNIT BEING BOUNDED APPROXIMATELY BY EXTENSIONSOF TWO CROSSING VERTICAL PLANES JOINING DIAGONAL OUTSIDE VERTICALCORNERS OF THE ADJACENT COLUMN, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFINING SUCH PLANESTHE COLUMNS BEING CONSIDERED OF SQUARE CROSS-SECTION WITH VERTICAL SIDESPARALLEL AND PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF THE SAID SPACE, SAIDENCLOSURE UNIT BEING SHAPED AND DISPOSED WITH ITS VERTICAL SIDESRESPECTIVELY ADJACENT BUT NOT OVERLAPPING THE COLUMNS, AND EACH SAIDVERTICAL SIDE EXTENDING TOWARD THE ADJACENT COLUMN ONLY AS FAR AS SAIDLAST-MENTIONED SIDE IS BOUNDED BY SAID EXTENSIONS OF PLANES.